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Forever: A Novel Paperback – November 1, 2003

by Pete Hamill (Author)

1,475 ratings

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This widely acclaimed bestseller is the magical, epic tale of an extraordinary man who arrives in New York in 1740 and remains . . . forever.

Through the eyes of Cormac O'Connor -- granted immortality as long as he never leaves the island of Manhattan -- we watch New York grow from a tiny settlement on the tip of an untamed wilderness to the thriving metropolis of today. And through Cormac's remarkable adventures in both love and war, we come to know the city's buried secrets -- the way it has been shaped by greed, race, and waves of immigration, by the unleashing of enormous human energies, and, above all, by hope.

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

If September 11th was a terrible warning of New York's mortality, Hamill's entertaining panhistorical fantasy is a paean to its immortality. In 1740, an Irish Jew named Cormac O'Connor heads to New York in pursuit of the man who killed his father and gets tangled up in a rebellion against the English. Through a series of events involving an African slave with shamanistic powers, he is granted eternal life, provided that he never leaves Manhattan. There follows a tour of the city's history through Cormac's eyes: the political corruption and the poverty, but also the majestic growth of the metropolis through its culture, its buildings, and its people. The book's central conceit could almost have come from the pages of Twain or Bellamy, but Hamill pulls his story fiercely into the present by centering the final phase of Cormac's narrative on the World Trade Center attacks themselves.
Copyright © 2005 The New Yorker

Review

"Hugely readable....Forever is old-fashioned storytelling at a gallop."―Washington Post Book World

"A swashbuckling, ribald tale told with flair and, sometimes, unbridled emotion. At the same time it is a serious look at what makes a city more than just bricks and mortar."―Tom Walker, Denver Post

"New York grows from a village-with wolves stalking its forests - in a town and eventually a city. Cormac O'Connor plays a role in a slave revolt, the American Revolution, and the great fire of 1835....O'Connor thinks, 'No many people know anything about their own past and New Yorkers are the most amnesiac of all." Forever should change that."―Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today

"A grand, dark, swashbuckling, yet essentially simple tale about a man's lifelong journey from revenge to mercy, hate to love."―Jodi Daynard, Boston Globe

"A tabloid epic in a folkloric style... Forever is fueled by the cruel dictates of history - corruption, exploitation, murder - but it wholeheartedly celebrates human goodness at every turn."―Troy Patterson, Entertainment Weekly

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Back Bay Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2003
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 640 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316735698
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316735698
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 1.95 x 8.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #33,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #196 in Cultural Heritage Fiction
- #280 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #606 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
1,475 ratings

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Pete Hamill

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Pete Hamill is a novelist, journalist, editor, and screenwriter. He is the author of 15 previous books including the bestselling novels Snow in August and Forever and the bestselling memoir A Drinking Life. He writes a column for the New York Daily News and lives in New York City.

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Customers say

Customers find this historical novel engaging and well-written, appreciating how it interweaves fiction with New York City's history. Moreover, the characters are marvelously fleshed out, and customers consider it worth careful reading. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it compelling while others say it's slow getting started.

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Readability History Writing quality Enjoyment Thought provoking Value for money Character development Pacing

181 customers mention "Readability"174 positive7 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as one of the best historical novels they have ever read.

"...I loved the mystical aspects. I didn't care for the last part of the book switching to the present tense...." Read more

"So much of this story is SO real! It is filled with lovely people. Cormac ties it all together. A work of art." Read more

"...With a twist of fantasy." Read more

"This book is one of the best books I have ever read! I love the history of New York and the belief of the old gods." Read more

99 customers mention "History"95 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate how the book interweaves fiction with the history of New York City, making it a great way to learn about the city's past.

"...The main character is terrific and the plot mostly moves well. I loved the mystical aspects...." Read more

"This book is one of the best books I have ever read! I love the history of New York and the belief of the old gods." Read more

"...Pete Hamill provides excellent historical background and weaves his character evolution within the growth of the city...." Read more

"...Not only did I enjoy the plot development (Hamill's a master at this) but I learned quite a bit of interesting facts in the reading...." Read more

53 customers mention "Writing quality"40 positive13 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as amazing, with one customer noting how it takes readers into the past and another highlighting its rich use of language.

"...Still, I am giving this book five stars because the writing and story are excellent." Read more

"...Hamill is a great writer and has a wealth of knowledge about the history of New York and Irish Mythology...." Read more

"...The writing is great so I gave it an extra star, but the author should have edited himself." Read more

"...Once he becomes immortal, the book starts to drag." Read more

49 customers mention "Enjoyment"41 positive8 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thoroughly enjoyable, noting that the story holds their interest from the beginning. One customer mentions they smile or scowl as the story unfolds, while another describes it as an interesting page turner.

"...Not riveting but engaging." Read more

"...Still, it is a heck of a book that will keep you turning the pages even if you have never been to New York City, or if you are not Irish." Read more

"...endings, and this freedom makes books more complex, surprising, and enjoyable...." Read more

"...The reader is there. This is indeed a novel to savor...." Read more

36 customers mention "Thought provoking"36 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, describing it as interesting and surprising, with one customer noting how it captured their heart and imagination.

"This is one of the longest books I've read in a long time. Basic premise is great but sometimes slogs on with thousands of details over a 300 year..." Read more

"...(Hamill's a master at this) but I learned quite a bit of interesting facts in the reading...." Read more

"...Hamill writes Cormac brilliantly as a hero inculcated with a keen sense of decency and an instinctive distaste for injustice of all kinds...." Read more

"...(and is surprisingly personal and well done)...." Read more

29 customers mention "Value for money"24 positive5 negative

Customers find the book excellent and well worth their careful reading.

"I ordered this wonderful book for a friend who is dying. The book was never delivered...." Read more

"...lest I miss the more tranquil passages, all of which were well worth my careful reading. This novel is one I definitely recommend...." Read more

"Fabulous book by the great Pete Hamill. Amazing story about an ongoing life from the beginning of Manhattan to current time. I couldn’t put it down." Read more

"Very good book. The beginning is more engaging than the middle - maybe that is where the title came from as it took me forever to get thru that part...." Read more

26 customers mention "Character development"24 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting how it follows the protagonist from Ireland to Manhattan.

"...The main character is terrific and the plot mostly moves well. I loved the mystical aspects...." Read more

"So much of this story is SO real! It is filled with lovely people. Cormac ties it all together. A work of art." Read more

"...He is a thoughtful guy, and his knowledge of the history of New York allows him to weave a complex story that spans centuries and focuses on some of..." Read more

"The first 200 pages were compelling--great character development and interesting story/history...." Read more

22 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding the first 200 pages compelling and describing it as a real page turner, while others note it starts slowly and find it dragging.

"...It picks up speed and after a time you want the narrative to go on and on and never end. A very good read, hard to put down." Read more

"It seemed a little slow to get started but it was laying the background to understand the rest of the book...." Read more

"...But this book grabbed me by the shirt collar and carried me through to the end at light speed, all the while DYING to know what came next...." Read more

"...Yes, the first 100 pages are a little slow in Ireland, but the mythology is grand and involving...." Read more

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D. Safir
Great historical fiction about New York, with a lot of mysticism thrown in.
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. I have another book in mind that I recently read called "New York - A Novel." I found that one somewhat lacking though I gave it a positive review. I enjoyed this book more. Because it doesn't purport to be a complete history of New York, it can be forgiven for leaving out a lot. The main character is terrific and the plot mostly moves well. I loved the mystical aspects. I didn't care for the last part of the book switching to the present tense. Still, I am giving this book five stars because the writing and story are excellent.

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Sally L. Jablonski
A Beautiful Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
So much of this story is SO real! It is filled with lovely people. Cormac ties it all together. A work of art.

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ARTHUR A. HOMLER
Manhattan Story
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Pete Hamill, near the top of of his writing.
A saga from eighteenth century Ireland to present day Manhattan. With a twist of fantasy.

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2 people found this helpful

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Frances Oberholtzer
Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book is one of the best books I have ever read!
I love the history of New York and the belief of the old gods.

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2 people found this helpful

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Jbel Jbel
Good start that drags on
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Overall a good book, but not great. The first third is really good but he doesn't become immortal until then. After that the book jumps around, 30 years here, 40 there, 100 here. You do not really get to know anyone else well. Also, the book mostly skips the entire 20 th century, when New York became what it is. Once he becomes immortal, the book starts to drag.

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3 people found this helpful

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Robert Mandel
You wish the novel could go on FOREVER!
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Somewhat reminiscent of TV's Highlander and the more recent program, Forever, this novel follows the life trials, tribulations and transformation of a young man born in Ireland in the early 1700's. The novels follows him from his early years in Ireland up to the age of 16; his decision to flee/emigrate to the America after killing a man who helped an local aristocrat murder his father; the aristocrat emigrates to America and this young man follows him vowing vengeance on this man and his descendants; transatlantic experiences on a ship carrying both immigrants and African slaves; his arrival in New York; his apprenticeship to a printer/publisher (met on board the trip across the Atlantic); his involvement in the both the early slave and indentured servants uprisings and later the American Revolution against the British; his friendship and efforts to help save an African slave (who was recognized by the other slaves as a spiritual leader) from certain death and who, in saving this leader, is mortally wounded and brought back to life by the African shaman and given the gift of eternal life as long as he remained within the borders of New York City. As a printer and later journalist he experiences and witnesses the evolution of New York City life and politics over several centuries (never aging himself). Pete Hamill provides excellent historical background and weaves his character evolution within the growth of the city. The book culminates in an attempt to make good on his vow of vengeance against a descendant of the early Irish aristocrat in the early 21st century which he hopes will set him free and allow him to die and go to heaven to be reunited his Irish family. The books is multilayered with historical mythology--Irish, African and American. It picks up speed and after a time you want the narrative to go on and on and never end. A very good read, hard to put down.

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13 people found this helpful

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Audaholic
It's a NOVEL, people, a STORY... and it's BRILLIANT!
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2005
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Ok, I don't ever write reviews of anything, but after reading a few of the negative reviews here I had no other choice than to post a review of my own. This was one of the best novels I've ever read - Period. I gave up on reading novels years ago because my imagination was far better than any story anyone else had written - I could always figure out what was about to happen next - and I would lose interest very quickly and never finish a book. But this book grabbed me by the shirt collar and carried me through to the end at light speed, all the while DYING to know what came next.

Someone once asked me if I'd read any good books lately, and I told them about this one. They asked me to explain the plot, and I did - to the best of my ability without giving away any of the "good parts". They looked at me like I had three heads, and said, "Uh, no thanks, not my kinda book..." I told them not to go on what I told them but to just read the book for themselves, and they refused. A year later, I was talking about books with someone else, and they asked me the same question. I told them that I'd loan them "Forever", but they couldn't ask me anything about it, they just had to read it. They agreed. Three days later, the book was back on my desk with a Post-It stuck to it reading, "This book was THE BEST!!! Bought one for myself!!! THANK YOU!!!" After discussing the book with them, they said that they didn't want the book to end... Yes, it's that good.

This is a book for those of you who can keep in mind that it's a NOVEL, a STORY... SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF for a moment and ENJOY what he's written... Geez Louise! Some people here need to RELAX! lol!

Don't miss this story... it'll take you all of a day and a half to finish it because you won't put it down...

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26 people found this helpful

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Cathy F
Fact packed novel
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is one of the longest books I've read in a long time. Basic premise is great but sometimes slogs on with thousands of details over a 300 year span. Not riveting but engaging.

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Sherry E
Book Review
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2013
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I received this book before I was supposed to and it is in incredible shape. I am enjoying my read. High review

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Marco
Hoffnung
Reviewed in Germany on April 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
Weltweit gefeiert erlebt man in diesem Beststeller von Cormac O'Connor die Geschichte eines außergewöhnlichen Mannes. 1740 kommt er nach New York und bleibt für immer. Solange er Manhattan nicht verlässt, ist er unsterblich. Er sieht die Stadt von der Wildnis zur Metropole wachsen und entschlüsselt die versteckten Geheimnisse wie Gier, Rassismus etc. Das Buch lebt aber auch von der Hoffnung. Leseempfehlung.

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ayesha
Incredible, gifted writing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
I've just finished reading this amazing book. I loved it and can't praise it enough. It's got to be one of the best books I've ever read and I've read quite a few. In answer to the person who said after 100 pages they couldn't get into into it, my reply would be give it a little bit more than that. It may start a little slow but believe me becomes a book that you won't be able to put down and will stay with you. Well worth reading,

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Amazon Customer
PURE PLEASURE TO READ
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Although this book was written a long while back, it is still so very good. Pete Hamill has a gift for writing. I've recommended this title to many of my acquaintances. Don't pass up the occasion to read it.

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Zvi Feler
History and Fantasy mixed up
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
Nice to read if historical relationship between English and Irish people is what you are looking for.
Then lots of historical aspects of NYC past are also there.
And then lots of fantasy, which is less my cup of tea.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review

4.0 out of 5 stars Hoffnung

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, gifted writing

4.0 out of 5 stars PURE PLEASURE TO READ

4.0 out of 5 stars History and Fantasy mixed up

Book Review

Hoffnung

Incredible, gifted writing

PURE PLEASURE TO READ

History and Fantasy mixed up